Antifogging and antifrosting goggles



Oct. 7, 1952 E. D. PALMES ANTIFOGGING AND ANTIFROSTING coccuzs Filed Sept. 2, 19

Patented Octi 7, 1952 -u -1rEp PATENTOFFICE ANTIFOG GI-Ng AND V-IANTIFRO'STIING oceans v v .LEdwardD I falmes, New YorkyN f-Application September 2, '1949,'-- Serial No. 113890 zsiclai nils. (Cl.-2-2-14) 1i (Granted ,un'der;

amended The invention describedherein; ifpatented;

may be manufactured and used by orforthe Government for governmental purposes} without the payment to 'me of any, royalt'y'thereon, I

relates 'to improved. cold This invention weather goggles, and more particularly to an improvement in goggles for preventing "fogging .and frosting oi the, goggles lenses at low' ambient temperatures. v I

Fogging on goggles lenses at low ambient temperaturesoccurs whenthe temperature ofthe interior-surface of the lens is lowerthan/th'e 'dewflpoint of the Watervapor'contained: within the goggles. If the, dew point isreached but the j freezing temperature of water "is notattained, .a' film or' fog will develop on' th-e lens; should the frost point be reached, a frost 'will develop on "the lens, incither case impairing vision.

Accordingly, ltlS' an'obj ect of-this invention 'to' provide goggles having a new and improved means for "preventing fogging and frosting of "the goggle lenses at-low ambient temperatures.

Another object of this invention is'toprov-ide an improved goggles structure where'incondensation of moistureupon thegoggles-lenses is-pre vented by means iormin'g r moisture condenser surfaces of high heat'conductivitypositioned .in-

'termediate the eyes oi a :wearer and the. lenses.

Itis anadditional object oithisinventionito provide an improved .goggl-es .in :.which econdensation of moisture on the goggles. lens is :pre-

' vented without unduly chilling the eyes of a wearer. a e

v i-Further objects; advantages, adaptations and benefits of this improvement in goggles r struc ture will be apparent from the-following description and accompanying -vdrawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a goggles structure embodying this invention;

Figure 2 .is ahorizontal sectional vieweonline 2--2 of ,Figurel;

Figure3 isva cross-sectional view on line 3-3 oiFigureil; and, I 1 g Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryperspec-r tive view of the upper portion of Figure3 .1. ,In order to provide a structure of thejcharacter .herein described, a frame I D is'provided for the goggles consistingof a flexible lens holding bead II and pad-like face contacting body I 2 interconnected by structure of relatively high thermal conductivity fixed'along opposite longitudinal edges to extended ribs I I and-I2 of bead and facecontacting body I2 respecspacing strip tively this structure including a I3 and a fin structure I5.

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" The-spacin strip I3" isformed of athinisheet brass band "or""strap approximately :one inch 'wideiand"eleventhousandths inch-thickwhile'rfin structure I isi formedfrom a fluted brass'strip or sheet. two thousan-dths "inch "thick fixed-at right angles tothefront edge of Spacing strip I3. The :upper or top .portion of fin forming jstrip; I 5

.' formsan :external fin which extends across the "frame III the "fin structure I5 extends inwardly top side of the goggles and above the spacing strip I3 a slightrdistan'ce, for example, on the order of one to-th'ree'. inches to afford anexternal' heat-radiating "surface. Throughout the "balance of 1 its out'er perimetenfinstructure I5 ,con-

forms in contour .generallyflto the lateral and lower edges of. frame I0. "To'the'forward ;side of fin structure. I 5 is "soldered an anchor ;,.str ip I 6 of" angle section having amoutwardly. extend ing-bead; I I .is secured by' means of brads or rivets I8." From"the portions thereof secure'd'to and b ackwardlyas indicated-in Eigs.wand-3 to form generally ,irusto-'-conica1t:shaped "baffles I5 'so located asirto be) positioned "in front of the eyes ora wearer ofthey goggles; 'LThese'ybafiies have an inner edge defining generally oval shape sight apertures centered before the eyesof 'the wearer and of suflicient "size'not unduly to interfere with th-evision of the wearer. Anflaiddi- 'tional thin metallic strip 'or baffle I9, 'dep'ends from'the upperinner edge of frame In-forward of the baflle or'fin structure Iii-and is soldered brads,

thereto below outwardly extending flange IT on anchor strip I6. This *bafile-IQ is adapted to cooper'ate-withthe ventilatingzholes 20 andfZI "in fin structure I5-and band I3 -respectively, in"the manner ashereinafter described. The heat-confductor an'dcondenser"surfaces I5 and I5 may j be independent elements or' formed integral with the band- Idpas --desired.

The spacing-strip orband I 3-is-assembled-:with goggles frameportions comprising head I I and face contacting portion I2 by securingthe flange I'I'to rib II Of" b69id II by means of pins or I8, or *other suitable securing 'means, while-therearedge of spacing strip I3 is secured tori-b I2 on-fac-e 'contacting part I2 by-pins-or brads I4, or other suitable *securing' means. These securing means may extend-continuously about the contacting surfaces between flange Il respectively, at suitable intervals, and -a suitable adhesive Oftape mayberused to seal the co-extensive edges between these parts. I Optionally the insertmay be=formed as-an integral part of *the goggles frame structure -or secured by suitwith enlarged ends 24' held byloops 25 of conventional design or a T groove in the lens as'is likewise conventional. In the assembled goggles the ends of band or strip I3 overlap and suiting a body member including a partcn the for- 4 structure as claimed, the forms hereinbefore described being merely the preferred structural embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. A goggles frame forholding a lens comprisward side thereof for holding a lens in substantially sealed relation thereto and a flexible part on the rear side thereof to contact and form a sealwith the face of a wearer so that a confined (space is isolated behind the lens when the goggles are being worn, and structure. for dissipating 'heat from the confined space including means able ventilating openings maybe providedtherein or between strip I3 and the rib l2 on face contacting part l2.

about the eyes which alleviates temperature differential between the inner and outersurfaces of the lens-and prevents transfer of facial moisture .to thelenses innersurface byits immediate. condensation thereon or transmittal. from the goggles frame through .outlet pass-ageways 2i. The flange or bafiie I9 is provided to prevent moisture laden 'air passing,. through the sight :bpenln'gs in bafile, I5 to the forward side thereof from contactingthe lens as it rises and furthermore causes such air to pass from the eye cup cavities through outlets 20 and thence to outlet apertures 21. The lower edge portion offlange I9 may depend downwardly as shown the curvature of baiiles I5. r

With. .the structure as described fitted to a subject under working c'onditior'is'. at tempera- .or be .curved slightlyin a direction opposite to tures .offrom 10' F..to .-40 F. it was found that the g gles lenses remained clear at the higher. temperatures for indefinite times and at the extremely low temperature .for a period of practical usefulness varying from approximately one 'quarter hour toone 'hour andlongerl By slight modification, as with the provision of air passageways through the lower portion of spacing strip I3, which encircles the area below .the eyes, and with or without aligned passage- .ways in the baffles I 5', better results are secured and even lower. temperatures may be reached, by the more positive inflow of fresh air and outflow of moisturela-den semi-heated air from within the eyecup ar-ea-s'of the goggles frame. Care-should be taken thatth subject wearer is not exposed to freezing by the incoming air. Optionally air vent openings in the rib portion l2. at its lower base portion may be provided.

If desired, or if the goggles-structure is to be used Withfad-ditional glasses, the body portion I2 may be built up or padded with extra layers of rubber, felt, or wool, or the like, secured by a suitable rubber cement or adhesive.

Having thus described the insert and its adaptation to agoggles frame, it will be apparent that a like or somewhat modified, molded or otherwise assembled structure in the nature of that described and formed from suitable metal, rubber, resin or other flexible or semi-flexible materials, transparent or otherwise may be provided and utilized under proper conditions. Therefore, while the improvement has been described in more orless detail, it is preferred not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the" form, arrangement, and construction of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, vwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the In either event the 'baffles' I5 in the b-aflle or fin structure l5 forms ashleldand heat conductor surface; .circumferentially forming frusto-conical baffles of sheet material on each side of the bridge of said frame be- "hind the lens and located to center the same 1 wherein the structure for dissipating heat. is of relatively thin sheet metal of high thermal conbefore the eyes of a wearer, said baffles having sight-openings similarly centered, and a fin extending outwardly of the frame along at least the top side thereof,said fin being in thermal conducting relation with the baffle forming means V I 2. The, combination as definedjin claim 1 ductivity.

3. A goggles frame for holding alens comprising a body member including, apart for holding the lens insubstantially sealed relation thereto and a face contacting part interconnect- 1 ed in spaced relation by structureincluding a web of relatively high thermal conductivity, at least the face contacting part of said frame bev ing sufiiciently fiexi-blesubstantiall'y to conform to and form a seal with the face of a wearer so thatv a confined space is isolated behind the lens when the goggles are being worn, heat dissipating structure of relatively high thermal conductivity-including a fin along at least the. upper portion of sa'i-d frameoextending outwardlyfrom the outer side thereof and baflies of sheet materiaLbehind the lens extending convergingly and backwardly from r the inner side of the frame, said bafiles terminating forward of the plane at which theeyes of a wearer are located .and radially outwardly of the center'of the eyes so as not unduly, to intefere with vision, and means including apertures in the web to promote convectional flow of air heated by contact with the wearer's face from the space con fined by said goggles. I

4. The improve-d structure defined in claim 3 wherein the baffles are fluted upon center lines extending substantially radially from centers aligned approximately with the center of the eyes of the wearer. r

5. In a goggles having a flexible lens of appreciably larger area than the area of the eye sockets of a wearer, a frame including a part for holding the lens and'a face cont-acting part interconnected in spaced relation by structure including a web of relatively high thermal conductivity, at least the face contacting part of said frame being flexible so that the latter part ers eyes would be located whenthe goggles are being worn and radially outwardly thereof to define sight openings shaped and proportioned not unduly to interfere with vision, and means including apertures in the web to promote a flow of air heated by contact with a wearers face from the space confined by said goggles.

6. In a goggles having a flexible lens, a frame including a part for holding a lens and a face lens extending convergingly and backwardly from the inner side of the frame, said baflies terminating forward of the plane at which a wearers eyes would be located when the goggles are being worn and radially outwardly of the centerline of the eyes so as not unduly to interfere with vision, and

means for directing a flow of air heated by contact with a wearers face from the space adjacent the upper inner side of the lens including a plurality of apertures in the web and the inner part of the bafile along the upper portion of the frame, and a second baflie between the lens and the apertured inner part of the first-mentioned baflies for directing away from the inner side of the lens supported in the frame the air entering the space between the said lens and said firstmentioned baflies from the space in the goggles to the rear of the first-mentioned baflies.

7. In a goggles having a lens of appreciably larger area than the eye sockets of a wearer, a frame including a part for holding the lens and a face contacting part sufficiently flexible substantially to conform to and form a seal with the face of the wearer so that a confined space is isolated behind the lens when the goggles are being worn, said lens holding part and face contacting part having substantially symmetrical opposed ribs adjacent their peripheries, structure of relatively high thermal conductivity fixed adjacent opposite edges respectively to the said opposed ribs for holding the forward and rear parts of the frame in spaced relation including a spacing web of relatively thin sheet material and heat dissipating fin structure, said fin structure including a part extending outwardly from the frame along the topside thereof and parts in thermal conducting relation thereto behind the plane at which a lens is supported in said frame extending backwardly from the inner side of the frame to form generally frusto-conical baflies directed toward the position at which the eyes of a wearer would be located, said baflies having sight openings located to assume a centered position before the eyes of a wearer of the goggles, and means including apertures in the web and the fin structure to promote a flow of air heated by contact with the wearers face from the space confined behind the lens when the goggles are being worn.

8. In a goggles having a lens of appreciably larger area than the area of the eye sockets of a wearer, a frame including a part for holding a lens and a face contacting part sufiiciently flexible substantially to conform to and form a seal with the face of the wearer so that a confined space is isolated behind the lens when the goggles ar being worn, said lens holding part and face contacting part having substantially symmetrical opposed ribs adjacent their peripheries, structure of relatively high thermal conductivity fixed adjacent opposite edges respectively to the opposed ribs for holding the forward and rear parts of the frame in spaced relation including a spacing web of relatively thin sheet material and heat dissipating fin structure, said fin structure including a part extending outwardly from the frame along the top side thereof and parts in thermal conducting relation thereto behind the plane at which the'lens is supported in said frame extending backwardly from the inner side of the frame to form generally frusto-conical baflies directed toward the position at Whichthe eyes of a wearer would be located, said baflies having sight openings located at a position to center the 7 same before the eyes of a wearer, and means for directing a flow of air heated by contact with a wearers face from the space adjacent the upper inner side of the lens including a plurality of apertures in the web and the inner part of the bafile along the upper portion of the frame, and a second baflie between the lens and the apertured inner part of the first-mentioned baflies for directing away from the inner side of the lens the air entering the space between the lens and said first-mentioned baflies from the space in the frame to the rear of the first-mentioned baflies. EDWARD D. PALMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kimball Mar. 26, 1940 

